An Update On ISIS Activities

July 23, 2016

July 23, 2016

Displaced

Today’s Major Developments

Friday demonstrators support cabinet resignations, technocrat replacements.

Great Britain pledges $80 million to help the war effort.

47,631 displaced Anbar families have returned home so far.

US firm starts IED/land mine cleanup project in Ramadi.

Counter Terrorism Service general says Mosul will be even easier than Falluja.

Fierce fighting continues around Manbij.

 

REPORTS FROM IRAQ

 

NATIONAL NEWS

 

Hundreds of people demonstrated in Baghdad demanding faster reforms. The demonstrators praised PM Abadi’s acceptance of the resignation of several ministers and demanded they be replaced by technocrats. [Mada]

A video of the demonstrations Friday in Baghdad [Yalla]

 

The UK allocates $80 million to help Iraq in the war against Daesh, according to a statement from its Foreign and Commonwealth Office. [Rudaw]

 

The French President, Francois Hollande, says France will support Iraqi forces with artillery weapons to fight Daesh. He also says France will not deploy ground troops in Iraq or Syria. [Sumaria]

 

The US Embassy in Baghdad issued a statement detailing the assistance that is to be provided by community donors to Iraq, based on the July 20th conference. [US Embassy]

 

During the recent Iraq conference in DC, Foreign Minister Al-Jaafari stated to his Saudi counterpart and the Saudi Ambassador to Iraq that Iraq rejects recent Saudi statements about Iraq and considers them unwanted interference in Iraq’s internal affairs. [Mada]

Jaafari also called on the conference countries to wage an international campaign to target the sources of the Wahhabi line of thinking, which he says defames Islam. He says fighting terrorism is not useful without countering radicalism and the ideological schools that support radicalism. [Sumaria]

 

The Minister of Displacement and Migration says after a meeting with US Ambassador Stuart Jones that Iraq and the US will intensify their efforts to help the displaced families from Mosul. [Sumaria]

 

A PMF spokesman says the donor countries didn’t mention anything about the families of the fallen and wounded PMF fighters, and demands more attention to them. [Sumaria]

 

The Coalition says it conducted nine airstrikes on Daesh targets in Iraq, around Mosul (3), Qayara (1), Tal Afar (1), and Kasik (1); and Hit (2) and Ramadi (1)). [InherentResolve]

 

BAGHDAD

Security-related incidents reported

North (Tarmiya, Taji, etc.)

Iraqi Army 22nd brigade found a Daesh guesthouses in each of 3 areas in north Baghdad, and confiscated an explosives vest, 4 IEDs, and a motorcycle. [BOC Facebook Page]

The IWMC says Iraqi Army 22nd brigade destroyed 3 Daesh hideouts in Tarmiya. [Ghad]

 

Northeast (Adhamiya, etc.)

An MoI source says armed men in military uniforms killed the owner of a money exchange office in his vehicle in Shaab, and stole $70,000 dollars. [Mada]

 

Southeast (Mada’in, etc.)

An MoI source says two people were killed and eight wounded when an IED exploded near a market in Mada’in. [Mada]

An MoI source says two people were killed and seven wounded when an IED exploded near a popular restaurant in the Old Diyala Bridge area. [Mada]

 

South (Dora, Mahmudiya)

Iraqi Army 23rd brigade destroyed 2 Daesh guesthouses and 2 IEDs in the Madhanik area and defused 2 more IEDs in Tal Al-Samar. [BOC Facebook Page]

An MoI source says one person was killed and seven wounded when an IED exploded near a commercial area in Hay Al-Sihha in Dora. [Mada]

 

West (Mansour, Ghazaliya, Abu Ghraib)

An MoI source says a car dealer was killed when a sticky IED exploded under his vehicle in the Yarmouk area. [Mada]

 

Total Baghdad incidents reported:    8     (Includes only incidents reported)

 

ANBAR

The Ministry of Displacement and Migration says 47,631 displaced families have returned to their houses in liberated areas in Anbar. [Sumaria]

 

Falluja

A member of the Anbar PC’s Security Committee says the displaced people of Falluja should not return to their houses before the complete removal of IEDs and mines from the city. He says the Council doesn’t want to repeat the mistake that happened in Ramadi when many people returned and got killed by IEDs. [Mada]

 

Iraqi forces defused 85 more IEDs and 6 booby-trapped houses, and found large quantities of explosives in different areas in Falluja District. Iraqi forces also cleared 36 houses, a medical center, and 3 streets in Saqlawiya, and 14 more houses and 2 farms in Qarma. [BOC Facebook Page]

 

The IWMC says Iraqi forces cleared 4 km on the road between Ameriyat Al-Falluja and Habbaniya, destroying 32 IEDs. [Harbi]

 

The IWMC says Iraqi Army artillery targeted 2 Daesh positions in the Falluja area, killing several terrorists. [Ghad]

 

Ramadi

The Mayor of Ramadi says an American company started its work, removing mines and IEDs from Ramadi city in coordination with the Iraqi Ministry of Environment and Iraqi forces. He says Sterling Global has a contract with the United Nations, which will pay for its services. [Sumaria]

 

The Anbar Operations Commander says the IAA destroyed 4 Daesh positions in the Albu Ali Al-Jassem area, killing tens of terrorists. He also says Coalition warplanes destroyed a Daesh mortar unit in Jazeera Khaldiya. [Sumaria]

 

The Chairman of the Khaldiya subdistrict council says Iraqi forces killed 3 Daesh terrorists who were trying to plant an IED on a major road near Jazeera Khaldiya. [Maalomah]

 

The MoD says Iraqi forces cleared the Albu Risha and Zangoura areas after they were liberated from Daesh, and found 70 C4 cans, 10 rockets, and other explosives. [Ghad]

 

Hit/Haditha

The IWMC says Jazeera Operations Command destroyed a Daesh vehicle in the Tasiya area near Hit, killing the terrorists inside. [Harbi]

 

A tribal PMF commander says Iraqi forces captured 35 Daesh terrorists who were trying to sneak back into Haditha with displaced families. [Maalomah]

 

The imam of Haditha said in the Friday prayers that all mosque imams in Anbar should unite their speech against terrorism and support Iraqi forces. [Mada]

DaeshDaily comment. Amen. This is the attitude that defeated Daesh in Haditha. The petro-dollar media doesn’t consider the people of Haditha (and other Sunni Iraqis in cities that fought Daesh, like Al-Alam and Ameriyat Al-Falluja) as “real” Iraqis. The only “Iraqis” these media care about are those who have opposed everything since 2003. Millions of Sunnis Iraqis didn’t like Saddam’s rules and oppose Daesh now, but the petro-dollar media doesn’t like to mention these people because they don’t fit the Sunni vs. Shia narrative. Unfortunately, this attitude is being copied by some media outlets even in the West. 

 

Western Anbar

A tribal PMF commander says the IAA destroyed a Daesh convoy of 6 vehicles in Al-Qa’im District, killing more than 11 terrorists. [Maalomah]

 

Daesh says it targeted Iraqi Army convoys near the Saqqar area with 4 IEDs, destroying several vehicles and killing or wounding several soldiers. [JustPaste]

 

Daesh says it targeted Iraqi forces in the Kilo 160 area with 3 Grad rockets. [JustPaste]

Daesh publishes photos of an attack on Iraqi forces in western Anbar. [JustPaste]

 

Daesh publishes photos of “normal life” in western Anbar. [DawaAlhaq]

DaeshDaily comment. They typically publish such photos when life is not normal.

 

SALAHUDDIN

Shirqat

Daesh says it destroyed an Iraqi Army Humvee near Tulul Al-Baj village, southwest of Shirqat. [A3maq]

 

Saraya Ansar Al-Aqida, a Shia PMF, says it captured 5 Daesh terrorists in Shirqat District. [Buratha]

The same group defused a Daesh vehicle bomb in the Shirqat area, according to a PMF source. [Harbi]

 

A security source says Iraqi Army artillery and IAA helicopters destroyed 3 Daesh vehicle bombs deployed against Iraqi forces and IDPs west of Shirqat. The source says an Iraqi Army vehicle was also destroyed. [Mada]

 

Daesh says it destroyed 7 Iraqi armored vehicles with IEDs on the road between Shirqat and Dibis. [A3maq]

 

Daesh publishes 3 photos from a village south of Shirqat. [JustPaste]

 

The Salahuddin Governor says more than 1,500 displaced families arrived on Friday in Salahuddin, some displaced from Shirqat, the others from Qayara. [Sumaria]

 

Baiji

The IWMC says the IAA destroyed 2 Daesh vehicles in the Sheikh Ali area, killing the terrorists inside. [Ghad]

 

The IWMC says Coalition warplanes targeted a Daesh gathering in the Makhoul Mountains area, killing 7 terrorists, wounding 11, and destroying 3 vehicles. [Harbi]

 

Daesh says one of its Iraqi suicide terrorists attacked Iraqi forces with a vehicle bomb near Ain Al-Baidha village in the Makhoul area, killing or wounding several soldiers. [JustPaste]

Daesh publishes a photo of the suicide terrorists. [DawaAlhaq]

 

Tikrit

The IWMC says the IAA destroyed a Daesh military camp in the Allas area, killing “tens” of terrorists. [Baghdadia]

 

Southern Salahuddin

Iraqi forces found 2 IEDs in the Niba’i area. [BOC Facebook Page]

 

DIYALA

Baquba

The Diyala Police chief says his troops captured 7 men wanted on terrorism charges in the Himrin area. [Sumaria]

 

KIRKUK

Kirkuk

A Peshmerga commander says his troops stopped a Daesh attack west of Kirkuk, killing or wounding several terrorists. [BasNews]

 

More than 100 volunteers from the US, France, Brazil, and Sweden are training in Kirkuk with the Peshmerga to fight Daesh. A Peshmerga commander says many people from foreign countries are fighting with the Kurdish forces on 3 fronts against Daesh. [Rudaw]

 

Hawija

A Peshmerga officer says Kurdish troops will participate with Iraqi forces in liberating Hawija. He says the campaign will start from 4 sides and that all of the forces have finished their preparations. [ARA]

 

Daesh says a group of its terrorists sneaked into Peshmerga positions in the Mullah Abdullah area, northeast of Hawija, and killed five Kurdish fighters. [A3maq]

 

Daesh publishes 2 photos of distributing its publications in Al-Zab. [JustPaste]

 

NINEWA

Mosul

The Ninewa Operations Commander, Counter Terrorism General Abdul Wahab Al-Sa’idi, says he expects that the Mosul battle will be easier than the Falluja battle. He says Counter Terrorism troops just need a short period of time for minor rearrangements and will be ready for the battle. [Yalla]

 

The Iraqi Minister of Defense says the Peshmerga will participate in liberating areas around Mosul but they will not be allowed to enter the city. [SotKurdistan]

 

Correction: Yesterday, we reported the IWMC saying Iraqi forces are 16 km away from Mosul; the correct number was 60 km (37 miles).

Makhmur/Qayara

The Ninewa Operations Command says Iraqi forces, supported by Coalition warplanes, stopped a Daesh attack on Awsaja and Haj Ali villages, killing tens of terrorists including 7 suicide bombers, and destroying 2 boats. It also says the Coalition followed the Daesh terrorists, who escaped toward Al-Houd village, killing 3 more terrorists, wounding 2, and destroying 2 more boats. [Mada]

 

The IWMC says Iraqi forces cleared the road between Awsaja village and Qayara Bridge and destroyed 35 IEDs. It also says Army 37th brigade destroyed a building where Daesh snipers were hiding near Salahiya village, killing 2 terrorists. [Harbi]

Daesh says it shelled and rocketed Iraqi Army positions in Nassr and Awsaja villages. [JustPaste]

 

A Shabak CoR member from Ninewa says people are leaving their houses and villages in south Ninewa areas toward Debaga Camp in northern Makhmur District. Debaga is a subdistrict of Makhmur. He says the government’s ability to deal with this influx is weak, and there are fears that terrorists are sneaking in with displaced people. [Karemlash]

 

Daesh says it attacked Iraqi Army positions in the Qayara Airfield residential compound, killing or wounding several soldiers and destroying 4 positions. Daesh also says it killed three Iraqi soldiers and wounded others with a rocket. [JustPaste]

Daesh says it destroyed an Iraqi Army Humvee and a personnel carrier in the Qayara Airfield residential compound. [A3maq]

 

Daesh publishes photos of battles south of Qayara. [JustPaste]

 

Northwest (Tal Afar, Sinjar)

Daesh says it shelled and rocketed several Peshmerga positions in the Sinjar area. [JustPaste]

 

KURDISTAN

Peshmerga sources say 318 Roj Ava Peshmerga fighters graduated from a training camp in Kurdistan. This group is a military arm for the KDP-backed Kurdish National Council, and the PYD had prohibited its return to Syria. [EnabBaladi]

 

The KRG spokesman refuted WikiLeaks’s report that said that Turkey gave $200 million dollars to the KDP in order to oppose the PKK. He says Turkey gave a loan of $150 million dollars to provide salaries for KRG employees. [ROJ]

 

The Canadian Minister of Defense says his country has sent a medical crew of 60 doctors, in addition to mobile clinics, to the KRG to treat the Peshmerga fighters who become wounded in battles against Daesh. [ARA]

 

REPORTS FROM TURKEY

 

The Coalition spokesman, Christopher Garver, says the Incirlik Airbase has resumed normal work activities after solving the electricity problem. The base faced an electricity shortage after Turkish authorities cut off power to the base following the failed military coup. [Anadolu]

 

REPORTS FROM SYRIA

 

Northeast (Hasaka, Raqqa)

Local activists say an IED exploded targeting a YPG vehicle in Ain Al-Arous town near Tal Abyad, wounding two fighters. [BasNews]

 

The YPG says the Turkish Army targeted western areas of Kobane District with heavy artillery and flew recon drones over the same area. It also says it targeted Zor Maghar village west of Kobane with heavy and mid-sized weapons. Meanwhile, Daesh attacked the town of Al-Shiyoukh south of Kobane. [Hawar]

 

Northwest (Aleppo, Idlib)

Manbij campaign. Manbij Military Council troops are advancing in Hay Al-Banawi, east of Hazawana in Manbij city, killing several Daesh fighters. MMC fighters found 7 more bodies of Daesh terrorists who were killed in west Hay Al-Hazawana and destroyed 2 Daesh vehicle bombs in south Manbij. Daesh is shelling Manbij city center with Grad rockets and mortars, trying to prevent MMC fighters from advancing. [Hawar]

The MMC managed to secure a road for civilians near the Banawi area and 123 people were able to escape (video). [Hawar]

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says around 200 civilians escaped Manbij city on Friday morning. [SyriaHR]

 

The YPG killed 12 Daesh terrorists and destroyed a vehicle while advancing toward Manbij city center from the south. Other MMC troops advanced from the west after heavy fighting with Daesh, killing 4 terrorists and wounding 5. [Hawar]

 

The Coalition says it conducted airstrikes on Daesh targets in Syria, 7 of them in or near Manbij, the other in Albu Kamal. [InherentResolve]

 

A 21-year-old woman trying to flee Manbij was killed by a Daesh land mine, leaving behind an 18 month old and a 3 day old child. [Hawar]

 

The Chairman of the Manbij Civilian Council refuted media reports about MMC fighters committing crimes against civilians. She says the MMC fighters are doing their best to secure civilians from Manbij. She also says that they are asking humanitarian organizations for aid but have not yet received a response. [Hawar]

 

Army Col. Chris Garver, the Baghdad-based spokesman for the U.S.-led Coalition, said Friday that Daesh fighters have used thousands of civilians as human shields and decoys in the battle for the northern Syrian city of Manbij, where it was reported earlier this week that nearly 60 civilians were killed by an airstrike.

Activist groups observing the war in Syria raised allegations earlier this week that U.S.-led coalition airstrikes have killed dozens of civilians near Manbij. The Operation Inherent Resolve coalition has conducted more than 500 airstrikes in and around the city since May 21, when the SDF launched its Manbij campaign.

The Pentagon is continuing a “credibility assessment” of those reports, Garver said Friday. That initial investigation should be completed in about the next 10 days, when a commander will determine whether the United States will launch a formal investigation into the incident. [Stripes]

 

The Manbij Military Council Spokesman refuted media reports about MMC troops freeing prisoners from Daesh prisons and moving them to Kobane. [Hawar]

 

Manbij Military Council troops found sheepskins used by Daesh terrorists to camouflage themselves to avoid Coalition Airstrikes (photos). [Hawar]

 

A video of 3 Daesh terrorists who were caught dressed as women trying to flee the battles in Manbij [Hawar]

 

Manbij Military Council troops intercepted a conversation between 2 Turkish Daesh terrorists in Manbij (audio). [Hawar]

 

Daesh says American warplanes conducted 20 airstrikes on Manbij city center. [A3maq]

 

Daesh says it stopped YPG attempts to advance in west and south Manbij city. [A3maq]

Here Daesh says the YPG, supported by Coalition ground and air support, attacked its positions in south and west Manbij city on Thursday, but it stopped the attack, causing massive casualties and forcing the YPG to flee. [JustPaste]

 

Daesh publishes 2 photos of targeting Kurdish forces with mortars in Ain Al-Nakhil village north of Manbij. [JustPaste]

Daesh publishes photos of targeting MMC fighters with rockets in the Manbij Silo area. [JustPaste]

 

Other northwest Aleppo reports. An opposition commander says Daesh launched a heavy attack on Dudyan village. He says Daesh started the attack with a vehicle bomb, but the opposition groups destroyed it with a rocket. He says the battles are still ongoing in the area. [ARA]

He also says that Daesh targeted Mare’ with rockets and mortars, wounding many civilians. Daesh also attacked Barisha and Ikada villages near the Turkish border, but opposition troops stopped the attacks. The opposition shelled Daesh locations in Harbal and Talalin villages. [ARA]

 

Daesh says it destroyed a Syrian Army cannon with a guided missile in Aisha village, north of Kowaires airport. [A3maq]

 

Central and West (Homs, Hama, etc.)

Daesh targeted Syrian Army positions in the Barda area east of Homs with heavy artillery. [Qasioun]

 

Media outlets close to the Syrian government admitted that two pilots were killed when their airplane fell in the Shindakhyat area east of Homs. Yesterday, Daesh had said that it shot down a Syrian plane in the same area. [Qasioun]

 

East (Deir Ez-Zor)

Unknown armed men attacked a house that was confiscated 4 months ago and used as a Daesh headquarters in Subaikhan village east of Deir Ez-Zor. According to a local activist, Daesh arrested many people after the attack. He also says Daesh is confiscating people’s properties after its headquarters got destroyed by warplanes. [ARA]

Unknown armed men have killed several Daesh terrorists from Arab countries in the past few days in Deir Ez-Zor countryside. [Qasioun]

 

Daesh says 3 Syrian soldiers surrendered to its terrorists in the Tharda Mountains, near Deir Ez-Zor airport. [A3maq]

 

South (Rif Damashq, Suwayda, Daraa, etc.)

Three armed opposition groups who were formerly a part of the Muthanna Islamic movement, a Daesh affiliate, announced that they will join Ahrar Al-Sham Islamic group. The three groups are from Dora and have a combined number of 400 fighters. [ARA]

 

Daesh publishes photos of publicly executing a young man in the Al-Hajar Al-Aswad area, accusing him of blasphemy. [JustPaste]

 

OTHER MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA REPORTS

 

North Africa

Egypt

A security source says Ansar Bait Al-Maqdis beheaded a 37-year-old man in Arish city, after accusing him of cooperating with security. [ElWatan]

 

A security source says a 13-year-old boy was wounded when an unknown armed man shot at him near his house in Bir Lahfan village south of Arish. [VetoGate]

 

A policeman was wounded when an IED exploded on his vehicle on the coastal road in Arish. [VetoGate]

 

Daesh says it targeted 2 Egyptian Army vehicles with 2 IEDs south and west of Sheikh Zuweid. [JustPaste]

 

Daesh says its snipers killed one Egyptian soldier south of Sheikh Zuweid. [JustPaste]

 

A security source says takfiri terrorists attacked a security barrier in Kharouba village south of Sheikh Zuweid, wounding a policeman. [VetoGate]

 

Libya

Central coast

The National Accord Government Minister of Foreign Affairs says the government decided that the war on terrorism should be Libyan with no foreign ground forces involvement. [Wasat]

 

A National Accord Government military source says 29 Libyan soldiers have been killed and 190 wounded in the battles in Sirte. [Wasat]

 

Daesh says it killed or wounded several Libyan soldiers by detonating 2 IEDs on their patrol in west Sirte and another in south Sirte. Daesh also says its snipers killed or wounded seven soldiers in south Sirte, and damaged a tank in east Sirte. Daesh says the Libyan air defense commander died of wounds he sustained in Sirte. [JustPaste]

 

Daesh says Libyan troops attacked its positions in Sirte from 3 sides. Daesh says it destroyed several armored Libyan vehicles with rockets in the eastern and western sides. Daesh also says 2 of its suicide terrorists, a Sudanese, and a Libyan, attacked Libyan troops with vehicle bombs on the southern side, destroying more than 10 vehicles. Daesh says “tens” of Libyan troops were killed or wounded, including a field commander. [JustPaste]

 

Tunisia

A Tunisian soldier was killed by a land mine on Samama Mountain in Kasserine. [AfriGate]

 

Other countries

Cameroon

Daesh’s Boko Haram affiliate says it attacked Cameroonian Army positions in a village in the Fotokol area northwest of the country, killing seventeen soldiers and wounding others, capturing weapons and ammunition. [JustPaste]

 

SOCIAL MEDIA SOURCES

 

A July 20th video taken by Kata’eb Al-Mosul shows a Daesh media point in the Hay Al-Amel area in Mosul before and after it was destroyed by a Coalition airstrike [Twitter]

 

A video of Iraqi forces destroying a charging Daesh vehicle bomb from a relatively close range [YouTube]

 

DAESH MEDIA

 

Daesh publishes photos of several of its terrorists who were killed in battles in the Ninewa and Kirkuk areas. [DawaAlhaq]

 

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